April 2017

Your Money and Your Mindset 02-07-2011 – Robert Jordan is an entrepreneur and author who has made it his mission to discover the “secret sauce” – Six Success Tips for Aspiring Billionaires used by self made billionaires to launch themselves from growing an idea into $100 million dollar companies or if it suits, taking their pride and joy public to the tune of $300 million or more.

Robert’s entrée into their world is paved by his own success when he launched and grew his startup company, Online Access, the first Internet-coverage magazine that made it on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies.

As is the quintessential characteristic of all serial entrepreneurs, he then sold his highly profitable Online Accessand proceeded to start up a couple more companies, RedFlash, a project implementation team, and interimCEOinterimCFO, a worldwide network of interim, contract, and project executives.

Their collective wisdom has been distilled into his latest book, How they did it: Billion Dollar Insights from the Heart of America.

He freely admits this book was a labor of love, driven by an insatiable curiosity to know the minds and passions of this select group of diverse individuals.

All aspiring entrepreneurs who believe they are billionaires in the making will do well to heed the advice of the 45 who have gone before them. Here are Six Success Tips for Aspiring Billionaires to steer you to success:

Do not be afraid to fail; if and when you do, make sure you fail fast

Do not be precious about your idea, be willing to tweak it

Leave your ego at the door; be astute enough to hire people smarter than you

However, make sure they are nice not just smart

Honestly is still the best policy, so be on the level when communicating with the people who work for you because no one becomes a billionaire on their own

Believe in the goodness of your angel investors but have Plans B, C and D just in case they decide to bail

Recapping Part 1: Financial freedom is determined by your mindset. In other words your emotional money profile determines your current level of wealth.

Financial Freedom, Mindset and You-Part 2: So, if you think you should be doing a whole lot better than you are presently, chances are that you have had sub consciously programmed into your mind (without your permission), the money beliefs you picked up from your parents or other authority figures when you were a child.

These programs do not support your conscious waking goals for financial freedom and/or wildly successful business ventures. I referred to this as the X Factor.

If I was to ask the question “Do you want to be rich” the immediate response of 99.9 percent of the population would be a resounding “Heck, yeah!” But for a majority, there is the internal conflict that arises with being in the position of having a lot of the green folding stuff handed to them.

It is well known that most people who win hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars through lotteries end up losing the lot and have in their wake a string of broken relationships. WHY? Because these people do not have the mindset of a wealthy person, instead they are poor people with a lot of money.

But before you become indignant and start hitting the reply button let me elaborate.

We all have a “money thermostat” programmed into our subconscious; we are comfortable with having a pre-determined amount of money in our bank account. This is in direct proportion to our sense of self worth or self esteem.

And here’s a predictor tip: Introduce me to your 4 or 5 best friends with whom you socialize and generally hang out and I can tell you what you are earning at the moment.

For example, there are people who feel that earning $100,000 a year is the all time high of a level whilst others are comfortable with being $35,000 per annum type of guys and gals.

Being creatures of habit, we gravitate towards what makes us comfortable and some people will do just about anything to return to their comfort zone. They will subconsciously rid themselves of the excess money by making poor investment choices or recklessly spend the cash on expensive trinkets such as fast cars, and boats that depreciate in value over time. They also tend to attract people into their lives who will help them use up the cash quickly!

So, how do you shift this “money thermostat” into the region of $100,000’s instead of $10,000s? I could have said $1,000,000’s but that would seem like leaping into the realms of the impossible, so baby steps first.

Number 1- work on your self esteem (this is a given, folks).

Number 2- get comfortable with earning and receiving more than you are currently getting. For the sake of the illustration, grab a piece of paper and write down the figure you are currently earning. Note the feelings that surface; now multiply that number by 2 and note again how you feel when you write that new number down. Now multiply this new figure by 2 again and repeat this until you cannot feel comfortable with this new number.

Here comes the good bit.

We will explore your reactions and more importantly breaking through the emotional and mental barriers to financial freedom in Part 3

Germs are everywhere – There is an estimated five nonillion (5×10 to the power of 30) bacteria alive and thriving on the Earth today according to an article on Foxnews.com ! Yikes!! They far outnumber plant and human life on this planet.

We know there are “good” and “bad” bacteria. E Coli and the like are bad and then there are viruses as well! We are continually surrounded by microbes. We can never be “germ-free” no matter how hard we try. Germs are everywhere. And we wouldn’t want to because the good news is that the majority of bacteria are “friendly.” They help recycle nutrients; they are needed for digestion of our food, create a natural form of antibiotic in our guts, enhance our immune systems, increase our ability to synthesize B vitamins and to absorb other nutrients and more! However, it is when the bad outnumber the good that problems begin.

Since we are pretty much surrounded with all types of bacteria and viruses and we are particularly vulnerable at this time of year, I thought it would be interesting to know what some of the most germ-laden surfaces are and how you can keep yourself and your family healthy inspite of them.

So here are some facts about these germs we co-exist with daily: Each square centimeter of skin alone harbors about 100,000 bacteria. And a single sneeze can spray droplets infested with bacteria and viruses as far as 3 feet away. Different surfaces can allow the bacteria to live from just a few hours to several days, or even months.

The least favorable type of surface for bacteria to live on is a hard, nonporous surface such as a countertop, tile floor, or glass. Cold and flu viruses can survive on dry surfaces for more than 48 hours, while some bacteria, such as E. coli, can survive on dry surfaces for months on end. Soft, wet surfaces (particularly those with plenty of food) are perfect for bacteria.

Cloth, sponges and carpets that have gotten wet are excellent living places for bacteria because it protects them from exposure to the environment, dry air or sunlight. Money is another surface upon which bacteria can live for quite some time. Paper money is often the worst, but bacteria can even live on coins for several hours as well. Most money is touched by hundreds, or thousands, of people, comes in contact with a variety of surfaces, and is porous, allowing bacteria to move deep inside the fibers to avoid environmental hazards. Money can host bacteria for several weeks at a time, and if used frequently (like $1, $5 and $20 bills) can be re-infected over and over again.

Office computer keyboards are another microbial playground! A study by a UK consumer group tested 33 office keyboards for microbial contamination. From their findings they labeled several as being “health hazardous.” One keyboard had five times as many germs as the same office’s public toilet seats! You should periodically clean your computer keyboard and certainly do not eat near it! Public magazines (especially those in doctor’s offices) and other waiting rooms are another breeding ground for cold and flu germs.

Any magazines in restrooms can also have fecal bacteria (yuk!) If you do read a public magazine, avoid touching your face and always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after.

If you work out in a gym – be aware! A 2006 study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine found the cold virus on 73% of weight-lifting equipment and on 51% of aerobic equipment. It is suggested that you thoroughly wipe down all equipment after use and avoid touching your face until you’ve washed your hands.

A study found two-thirds of shopping cart handles to be contaminated with fecal bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, even more so than public toilet seats. Shopping cart handles are excellent transmitters of diarrhea and other potential illnesses, both to adults and to children. Be sure to use the complementary sanitary wipes many grocery stores offer or wipe handles down with your own disinfectant. It goes without saying you should avoid touching your face while shopping but PLEASE don’t let your young child suck on the handle as I’ve seen some do!

The Lord thought physical cleanliness was so important, He outlined specific measures for his people in numerous places in the Bible (see especially Leviticus 11-17). The bottom line is this: Wash your hands more (with plain soap and water) and avoid touching your face. These two universal measures will go further than anything else to keep you healthy and germ-free all year ‘round.

What does living consciously mean to you? If I asked 20 different people what it means to live a conscious life, I’m sure I’d get twenty different answers.

One person might say living consciously is living simply and leaving a light footprint on the Earth; another would say it’s about being mindful in all our relationships; another would put their focus on being authentic and expressing their truth; and yet another would emphasize living their passion and giving their unique gifts to the collective well being.

You see, to a certain extent it depends where we’re starting from and there’s room for all our differences. For me, there’s a central core to living consciously and a very important aspect is the freedom to choose. We don’t always have a choice about what life throws at us but we do always have a choice about how we respond to life in each moment, and these moment to moment choices create our experience, here and now and in the future.

To put it very simply, we either make unconscious choices or we can make conscious choices. Unconscious choices come from our conditioned mind, they’re habitual and they give us more of what we’ve had before. This may be a certain level of comfort or a quick fix as provided by comfort foods or a glass of wine for example, or it may be a repetition of old drama which keeps us stuck in familiar misery. We repeat these unconscious choices over and over until we start to wake up and become more conscious.

Conscious choices bring our thoughts and actions into alignment with our authentic values; with what will ultimately bring us real satisfaction and fulfillment. Conscious choices lead to learning, growth, and the opportunity to create something new and fresh.

Let me give you an example. This week I met a young man; his relationship with his partner of several years had become so difficult for both of them, they had decided to part. He was very angry; the immediate pain of losing this relationship was stirring up old childhood pain of feeling abandoned by his parents and he wanted to hurt himself and punish his parents, his partner and his child. Luckily, he made a conscious choice and sought out his long term friend and mentor who encouraged him to see the situation as a new beginning, full of opportunities.

If he wants to free himself from this unconscious pattern of feeling abandoned and wanting to punish he will need to make not just one but many conscious choices, every day. These deeply engrained patterns do not easily go away, as we all know. But knowing that we have a choice immediately frees us from being a victim of our past. It may not be easy to change old patterns but it is possible.

Relationships are the mirrors in which we can see our conditioned limiting patterns most clearly. When things don’t work out in a relationship or we feel hurt, it’s human nature to blame the other person. If only they would change, then everything would be OK, right? But actually it’s much more empowering to see everything that happens in all your relationships as information about you and how you can be different. Then the power and the responsibility is in your hands. You cease to be the victim of other’s behavior and become the leader in your own life. This is freedom!

Bouncing Back Now-Guest Elliott Katz 11-10-2010 – This week’s episode: Interview with Elliott Katz, Author and Speech Writer Revealed the Three Keys to Being a Strong Man.

Mr. Elliott Katz intrigued viewers with the concept of being a strong man. His new book entitled: Being the Strong Man a Woman Wants has been translated into 20 languages and is in worldwide distribution.

The Direction

Moving beyond the trendy ideas about a man’s role that just don’t seem to work, Elliott shared insights on being a man that have withstood the test of time. Interestingly, these insights are the traits that he has heard many women complain were lacking in men today:
· showing leadership
· making decisions
· taking responsibility

He also discussed the importance for men of stepping up to the plate. Elliott stressed that women are looking for strong men in their lives. They want to feel safe. In many cases, as women have gotten stronger and more independent, men have gotten progressively weaker. Women are picking up more and more responsibility and decision making and they are beginning to deeply resent it.

Watch the 15 Minute show preview:

How Does It Work For You?

When we hear that all women want a strong man – we re-actively recoil in the generalization. Of course, each couple is unique. In every relationship, clearly some decisions are more suited to the particular woman, and some decisions are more suited to the particular man. But most would agree that major and joint decisions need to be made with participation and constructive input by both parties. A relationship is a partnership; a relationship is a team. With the partnership attitude, the relationship simply works better.

What Are Men Doing?

Where have today’s men gone astray? Katz theorized that since the age of industrialization modern men have spent less time with their fathers. They have fewer strong male role models and limited daily encounters with men in general. In the media men are often portrayed as weak, cast as buffoons in the sit coms, the subject of ridicule, and the brunt of jokes.
Men are genuinely trying to be sensitive to the needs of wants of the women in their lives. Elliott noted that the standard men’s “whatever you want” reply is not on for important decisions that affect the couple and the family. Women are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of leadership they are seeing.
Elliott was careful to distinguish the traits of the strong man from a mean, controlling bully – this is not the goal at all. A strong man can be both kind and considerate — as well as decisive. It is a balancing act that modern men are just now navigating. Men’s roles have shifted so far and so fast, up until now, there has been very little in the way of a useful road map. Now there is.

– As the special guest on Donna Marie Thompson’s Bouncing Back Now show on the Real Coaching Radio TV Network, Dr. Doron Gil, a university teacher and counselor specializing in self-awareness and relationships in the Netherlands shared his message that “developing a deep sense of self-awareness is important to managing relationships – be they romantic or otherwise.”

In ‘The Self-Awareness Guide to a Successful Intimate Relationship’ Dr. Gil asserts that:“Most people are not aware that they are unaware. How could they possibly know?” Dr. Gil leaves all of the psychobabble behind to explore the intricate details of intimate relationships and healthy relationship communications. “And as it turns out, we are not doing so well. The divorce rate is just one indicator. And sadly the trend appears to be increasing among recent retirees,”he remarked.

Watch the 15 minute show preview:

According to Dr. Gil: “If you don’t know what you are doing or why you are doing it – just how successful do you think you will be in your interactions with others? We become imprinted with default tendencies as children by our parents, teachers, and other influencers. To some extent these patterns have served us; to some extent they have hindered us – sometimes in a major way. This can be a major block to our happiness later in life. Do you know what your default patterns are? Do you avoid conflict? Do you cause conflict?”

Dr Gil assured viewers that there is hope. He indicated that: “you can break free of your reflexive patterns after you become aware of them. The next time you are in a lively discussion with your love – the discussion that you’ve had many many times before – there is a valuable opportunity to learn. Step back and analyze your role in it.”

To clarify further what are the keys to self awareness in relationships, Dr. Gil posed these four questions:

“Are you aware of what you are doing and saying?· Are you behaving exactly like one of your parents did?· Are you behaving exactly the opposite of one of your parents?· Do you know how to identify and resolve conflicts in your relationship?”

Based on Dr. Gil’s research: “The answers to these questions can shine a light onto your own patterns – maybe for the first time. Now you are on your way to discovering your default responses. This is the first step on the path to your increased self awareness. You can improve your relationship by becoming more self aware and by breaking destructive patterns. And what a difference it will make in your life.”

Donna Marie Thompson, PhD – The Bouncing Back Now Relationship Coach – is a Certified Professional Coach, a Certified NLP Practitioner, and a Master Practitioner of the Energy Leadership Index. Donna Marie is listed as one of America’s Premier Experts in relationships and personal development. She is the host of the “Bouncing Back Now” show on BlogTalkRadio and on the Real Coaching Radio TV network. Donna Marie has been the featured guest on many radio shows and on the Brian Tracy TV Show as seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox affiliates across the country.

by Chris Lewis, MH 1-866-928-2873 www.ChrisLewisMH.com According to the National Institutes of Health, at least 70% of all illness and disease (including chronic) is either caused or contributed to by stress.

Their two kinds of stress, distress and eustress (pronounced “you-stress”). Distress is the kind of stress that most people think of when they hear the word “stress.” It’s what you feel when you’re “overwhelmed” or “under the clock” or when you’ve just got some bad news or suffered a trauma of some kind.

Eustress is what you feel when you’re getting married, having a child, working toward a promotion, riding a roller coaster, exercising intensely, or receiving a good kick in the rear from a caring friend or mentor. While distress is harmful, eustress can actually strengthen your immune system along with your character (and your muscles). Distress tears you down.

Eustress motivates you and helps you to grow and become more than you are now. If the only kind of stress you feel at work is eustress, consider yourself lucky! If, however, you’re getting a lot of distress – you’ll need an antidote if you don’t want to end up in the hospital (which, in turn, causes even more distress!)

The Antidote:

Having an escape from stress cancels out most (if not all) of the physiological effects of that stress. The catch is that this escape must be used on a regular basis. When you’re feeling the distress, excuse yourself, find an empty bathroom stall (most people will never bother you there), and take five to allow your heart rate to return to normal. Also, take a few very deep breaths, using your full lung capacity – all the way in, and ALL the way out – and consciously relax your muscles on the out breath. Do this for about 20 times. Also, leave work at work! Don’t bring it home. If at all possible, leave your brief case, business cell phone, uniform, etc. at your place of business. If you are in a line of work where that isn’t an option, then have a room where you can stash your business items until you need them tomorrow where they will be out of site for the evening. When you come home, really come home. A few minutes before you arrive at home, pull into a parking lot or park and breathe deeply for 5 minutes. Allow yourself to change your focus from work to family (or friends, or R&R) before you walk in your front door.

Use EFT daily – if you need to, you can even do it hourly! EFT, short for Emotional Freedom Technique is a safe and easy treatment for stress, phobias, trauma, negative emotions of all kinds, and even jet lag. It involves tapping on acupuncture points with your fingers and works very quickly (almost instantly) for 4/5 people. You can learn the technique at emofree.com.

For a quicker easier way to learn it, sign up for my free email course, The Medicines in Your Spice Cupboard at: http://www.chrislewismh.com/ListMachine2 then refer some of your friends to sign up for the course as well with the referral link you’ll receive (please be cool about this and don’t spam anybody). As soon as 3 of them sign up, you’ll automatically receive a download link to a quick reference sheet and video I created to help you learn this super-powerful technique more easily.

Most of us keep items around our homes and offices (and even in our cars) that remind us of stressful or traumatic times. This causes harmful distress every time you see or even think about these items – and if you’re not aware of it at a conscious level it’s even worse!

I suggest you get rid of as many of these items as possible – sell, pawn, gift, donate, recycle, trash, or burn them in a safe container outside; or if it’s something you can’t get rid of, perhaps something that belongs to your company, then disguise it, redecorate it, requisition a slightly different model, or place something more pleasant in front of it, and if possible, do something to associate the item with a positive emotion – have your child paint it, wear it on a first date, or set a beautiful plant or picture on top of it – whatever seems appropriate. The goal here is to get yourself to feel good whenever you see the item. This may seem a little silly to some, but you will lose all your doubt as soon as you feel how wonderful it feels to be free of that nagging stress every time you look at the thing.

Need to get something off your mind? Put it on paper! Journaling is something most people have heard of and very few know how to do effectively. For this purpose, you can use any paper from a leather bound journal to a spiral bound notebook, or even a spare piece of printer paper. Now take your pen and just start writing – as much as you can about everything that’s on your mind; don’t edit, censor, or worry about grammar or neatness – just brain-vomit on the page! Yes, you’re allowed to destroy these later – which is why I suggest that you keep two journals, a nice one to keep and a cheap one to burn or shred later.

You might also want to keep a to-do list handy to write down tasks that occur to you during this process as well. That way you can give yourself permission to forget about these because the paper you’re writing them on won’t forget and you can go ahead and do them when the time is right.

I also suggest that you journal for a page or two each evening before going home, then you can either keep it or tear it up and put it in the recycle bin or paper shredder. This is yet another way that you can leave work at work, and make yourself nice and fresh for your arrival at home.

If you want, you could even try typing it out in a wordpad document on your computer, then just deleting the file. Personally, I prefer to use a real pen and paper for this purpose, but to each his/her own. That’s it!

You now have the power to neutralize the greatest single threat to your health, save thousands in medical costs, and flat-out enjoy your life more! Now it’s up to you. These strategies will only work for you if you use them. So go ahead and print out this article right now, and tape or tack it somewhere conspicuous on or near your desk. Have you done that? Go ahead and do it now before you do anything else. Good. Now pick one of these strategies that you are going to start using IMMEDIATELY. I would suggest you start with one of the easy ones like the five-minute escape or journaling to give yourself an easy success right off the bat. Then the good feelings you have from having successfully completed the first step will propel you into success in the other three areas. …

Now that you’ve gotten a good start, would you do me a favor? E-mail me at Chris@chrislewismh.com and tell me how things have improved for you since you started using these strategies – then give a copy of this article to a friend or coworker.

You see, I believe that when you have some bit of knowledge that has the potential to do some good in the world, you also have the responsibility to share that knowledge with those who need it, someone is entrusting you with this important assignment, otherwise you would never have been made aware of this information.